One operator of smoke shop at Finger Lakes Drive-In arrested

In a story that seems to be getting odder by the day, one man has been taken into custody for violating probation, who was operating the smoke shop at the Finger Lakes Drive-In.

The Town of Aurelius is taking legal action against the drive-in, as well as the individual who was arrested. Dustin “Dusty” Parker was apprehended at his probation check-in Thursday night.

The 29-year-old opened a drive-thru shop that was selling cigarettes, which first launched in August. The shop opened after an interesting sale took place, which moved 1.19-acres of the drive-in property to two members of the Cayuga Nation, who have been operating the makeshift store.

Parker is currently being held at the Seneca County Jail without bail, according to authorities at the Sheriff’s Office.

Aurelius is also pursuing legal action against Parker for various zoning violations at the location. However, Jason Silversmith, the second member of the two-man-cigarette-shop team says that the claims are baseless given that the Cayuga Nation only answers to the federal government.

The Finger Lakes Drive-In will also be facing some legal trouble of their own, after the DEC was brought in to look at wetlands, which were illegally cleared behind the theater. Additionally, officials in Aurelius have also said that operators of the theater tried to burn trees on the property with diesel fuel — something the DEC frowns upon.

According to the now sole-operator of the smoke shop, business has been getting heavier as the days and weeks have progressed since opening. While the details of the sale are peculiar, to say the least, officials in Aurelius are concerned about preventing a confrontation — like the one that took place a few years ago in Union Springs as division remains a major problem within the Cayuga Nation leadership.